Major new anchor for North Shields' Royal Quays outlet

Published on: 31st March 2017

A major new anchor unit has been announced at the Royal Quays Outlet in North Shields. The 138,000 sq ft shopping centre, located immediately adjacent to the international ferry terminal and eight miles east of Newcastle City Centre, has been extended by the completion of an ambitious 22,000 sq ft leisure venue.

The new space, situated on the main car park of the centre, has been innovatively created using a large inflatable dome structure, which is the first of its kind in the region. The unit has been pre-let to Xtreme Bounce, a leading trampoline business.

Peter Everest, managing director at WD Limited, which owns the Royal Quays Outlet Centre, said: “Not only is the dome visually stunning but inside there is a sleek and dynamic style with vibrant, exciting colours. It offers state-of-the-art facilities and it is going to have a massive impact on the area both as a leisure outlet and from an employment perspective. It is a bold and ambitious move not least for the fact that we are introducing a totally new concept to the region.”

The new leisure venue will include a Trampoline area, Segway Slalom, a Slam Dunk area, a Soft Play Castle and a number of other innovative, family entertainment facilities.

Royal Quays already has a number of anchor retail tenants, including Gap Outlet, a Nike Factory store, Next Clearance and Clarks. Other occupiers nearby include Star Bowl, the Wet N Wild Water Park, Brewers Fayre and Premier Inn.

Our retail team acted as letting agents at the centre, alongside CHD Property.

Retail Agency

Our principal retail agency services include:
Shopping Centre, High Street and Out of Town Retail Consultancy
Disposals
Acquisitions
Innovative Marketing Solutions
Development Appraisal
Monitoring of retail requirements and trends
Strategic Asset Management Strategy and Investment Funding
Our client base is spread across a wide spectrum of retailers, developers, investors and retail property owners and occupiers.
With an established team of experienced focussed professionals our offices cover the whole of England and Wales and the Scottish Borders.
We have an enviable reputation in the market amongst our clients and competitors alike.
Each and every one of our clients is very important to us. We strive to work in partnership with our client to achieve the best possible results. To understand our client’s business and objectives is of huge significance and importance to us.
Our appreciation of local market conditions and national retail trends helps us to achieve the best possible solutions to our client’s property issues.
We are committed to achieving an innovative and multi faceted approach to our marketing of client’s retail property utilising both technology in all its complex forms and personal and direct communication with potential targets.
We understand retailers and retail property.

Our client base is spread across a wide spectrum of retailers, developers, investors and retail property owners and occupiers.

With an established team of experienced focussed professionals our offices cover the whole of England and Wales and the Scottish Borders.

We have an enviable reputation in the market amongst our clients and competitors alike.

Each and every one of our clients is very important to us. We strive to work in partnership with our client to achieve the best possible results. To understand our client’s business and objectives is of huge significance and importance to us.

Our appreciation of local market conditions and national retail trends helps us to achieve the best possible solutions to our client’s property issues.

We are committed to achieving an innovative and multi faceted approach to our marketing of client’s retail property utilising both technology in all its complex forms and personal and direct communication with potential targets.

Glass House revitalises the famous Union Rooms in Newcastle City Centre

Today the doors to Union Rooms are opened for the first time by new owners, Glass House. It is over two years since we completed the letting of the first Glass House venue on Dean Street, Newcastle, a venture which has proved to be a welcome addition to the ever-expanding Newcastle Leisure market.
Glass House offers customers an experience unlike many others, with a wide selection of wines, continental beers, an unrivalled selection of the finest whiskeys and an ever-evolving cocktail menu in a glamourous setting.

Today the doors to Union Rooms are opened for the first time by new owners, Glass House. It is over two years since we completed the letting of the first Glass House venue on Dean Street, Newcastle, a venture which has proved to be a welcome addition to the ever-expanding Newcastle Leisure market.

Glass House offers customers an experience unlike many others, with a wide selection of wines, continental beers, an unrivalled selection of the finest whiskeys and an ever-evolving cocktail menu in a glamourous setting.

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The first Glass House venue opened in the historic Milburn House in February 2015 and we are delighted to have assisted Glass House with the acquisition of their second venue.

Today, owner Mark Nigrelli will welcome the first 30 visitors to his new venue on Westgate Road with a free pint, courtesy of Hop House 13.

Kevin McGorie, commercial agent in our Newcastle office advised Glass House on the deal and commented, “Glass House was a fantastic addition to the Newcastle nightlife scene when it first opened two years ago, I have no doubt that the second venue will prove just as popular. Its setting in a historic building epitomises the Glass House brand and I wish Mark the very best moving forward.”

Growth in the out of town Newcastle leisure market

Kevin McGorie and Mark Convery from our North East agency team comment on the changing tastes in the North East leisure market and the increase in popularity of the out of town leisure market.
The past two to three years has witnessed a steady increase in the out of town leisure market, driven by social and economic factors and the changing tastes and requirements of customers.
The active expansion of out of town retail parks has seen has seen units that were formerly restricted to the Metro Centre or city centres taking up retail space beyond the borders, and with it shoppers have flocked to these new stores.

Kevin McGorie and Mark Convery from our North East agency team comment on the changing tastes in the North East leisure market and the increase in popularity of the out of town leisure market.

The past two to three years has witnessed a steady increase in the out of town leisure market, driven by social and economic factors and the changing tastes and requirements of customers.

The active expansion of out of town retail parks has seen has seen units that were formerly restricted to the Metro Centre or city centres taking up retail space beyond the borders, and with it shoppers have flocked to these new stores.

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For every Next and B&M there is also a Greggs or Costa, but the food and drink industry has also wised up to the fact that shoppers now regard a trip to these areas as a day out in itself and have subsequently expanded into these areas. Popular champagne bar Glass House is one of example of an upmarket brand seeking to launch into this area, after taking a unit at Manor Walks in Cramlington.

Hungry Horse is also a destination that has ridden this increasing wave, with its pubs becoming family favourites that cater for children and adults alike. Food-led venues have leapt up as proprietors realise that a significant proportion of customers will be motorists travelling to these out of town places or young people, and so catering for all requirements has risen to the top of the agenda.

General lifestyle changes have also led the evolution, with people now more conscious of the health impact of certain types of food and drink. This has meant that wet-led venues where food was scarce have given way to dry sales rising in prominence, with a meal and a pint replacing a tray of shots in many cases.

Transformation is also in evidence, with the Earl of Pitt Street in Newcastle converting from a traditional, old-fashioned pub into a bistro famed for its fine dining, and is now a destination in its own right despite being slightly off the beaten track.

Whereas the recession was typified by a decline in leisure sales and custom, the opposite has been true in recent years, with pubs and bars raising their game to offer something more than simply drinks, and others reinventing themselves as they gradually migrate out of town – a trend set to continue in the coming years.

A look ahead at the North East leisure industry

2016 was an incredibly busy year for the commercial property market in the North East and the leisure market was no different, with a number of new restaurants, bars and retailers opening across the region.
With 2017 promising to be just as exciting, our North East property experts have once again teamed up with Sintons Law to help create the annual leisure supplement published in the Journal.

2016 was an incredibly busy year for the commercial property market in the North East and the leisure market was no different, with a number of new restaurants, bars and retailers opening across the region.

With 2017 promising to be just as exciting, our North East property experts have once again teamed up with Sintons Law to help create the annual leisure supplement published in the Journal.

Leisure Property Services

Our leisure team provide leading industry services to businesses working in leisure. Our in depth knowledge of the industry means we can deliver bespoke property solutions based on what you need to maximise on your business’s potential.
Whether you’re a developer, owner or occupier, we work with hotels, leisure clubs, restaurants, bars, pubs and holiday parks to support you in making your business a success.
Putting experience first with market leading Leisure property services
Our leisure property solutions cover all elements of your property needs, including finding you the right property, designing the perfect property to enhance your customer’s experience, supporting you in negotiating your lease or business rates, and valuing your property or business assets.
Contact our leisure team and let us develop your bespoke property solution, with your business right at the heart of it.
Contact Us

Our leisure team provide leading industry services to businesses working in leisure. Our in depth knowledge of the industry means we can deliver bespoke property solutions based on what you need to maximise on your business’s potential.

Whether you’re a developer, owner or occupier, we work with hotels, leisure clubs, restaurants, bars, pubs and holiday parks to support you in making your business a success.

Putting experience first with market leading Leisure property services

Why leisure is not just location, location, location

The leisure and tourism sector is constantly evolving, and the North East in particular has been through numerous changes. Newcastle and Gateshead are at the epicentre of a food-based revolution, but with the sector flourishing, competition is at an all-time high.
It is therefore vital for venues to distinguish themselves from the pack; prime locations are no longer essential to success, providing your offering is distinct and your brand message can be widely and effectively communicated.
The success of basement and rooftop bars and restaurants has illustrated that being different can work, providing you have the experience to back it up, regardless of whether you are at street level in a so-called prime location or not.

The leisure and tourism sector is constantly evolving, and the North East in particular has been through numerous changes. Newcastle and Gateshead are at the epicentre of a food-based revolution, but with the sector flourishing, competition is at an all-time high.

It is therefore vital for venues to distinguish themselves from the pack; prime locations are no longer essential to success, providing your offering is distinct and your brand message can be widely and effectively communicated.

The success of basement and rooftop bars and restaurants has illustrated that being different can work, providing you have the experience to back it up, regardless of whether you are at street level in a so-called prime location or not.

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Any USP needs to set leisure brands apart from the crowd both physically and socially, and the key to achieving this is to think about what is most likely to appeal to the customer and attract footfall from the outset. It is naturally important to have the operational processes in place to deliver, but good, on-brand design will maximise front of house and minimise support space and therefore improve the effectiveness of the offer.

In the North East, there has been significant growth in alternative venues and locations. The Wylam Brewery is a striking example, converting the former Palace of the Arts into a craft beer destination in a £500,000 project. Lane 7 also illustrates how a venue does not have to be slap bang in the city centre to attract custom, with its distinct offering of food, drink, bowling and ping-pong encouraging customers to venture up to St James’ Boulevard and away from the more established locations.

The success of these and similar establishments means that we are now seeing venues pop up on a frequent basis, with forgotten buildings and spaces becoming new destinations and seemingly innocuous doors on the street leading to intriguing bars that hark back to prohibition era speakeasies.

Of course, the key challenge that comes with opening such a venue is first getting it on the map. Social media and other digital channels are essential to breed advocacy and – providing the venue has the consistent quality and atmosphere to back it up – can continue to attract new customers, as well as retaining existing ones, through word of mouth and a quality offering.

The key is to ensure all bases are covered at the outset. It doesn’t just mean choosing the right building in the right place. It requires a clarity of vision in what you are trying to achieve and then delivering a venue that strengthens the message and allows you to differentiate yourself from the crowd.